State-dependent spatial maps for navigation

Internal behavioral states influence many brain circuits, with well-known effects in sensory areas. Less is known about how these states shape downstream navigation circuits, such as the medial entorhinal cortex and hippocampus, which construct spatial maps from grid and place cells. Emerging evidence suggests that these maps can spontaneously switch ('remap') in stable environments and that remapping is linked to behavioral changes that are state related. We consider the circuit mechanisms underlying this spontaneous remapping and its role in facilitating state-dependent goal-directed behavior. We suggest that behavioral state shifts may trigger remapping similarly to external environmental changes, enabling spatial maps to adapt to current goals. This dynamic mapping could help encode distinct memories across different experiences, aligning neural representations with behavioral states.